Additionally, the hedge trimmer you use for laurel must also have a motor that is powerful enough to cut quickly and through the toughest growth without much frustration. Hedge Trimming can involve power tools, fast moving blades, thorny plants and working at height, so it's important to know how to trim your hedges safely. If you cut it with a hedgetrimmer in late spring or early summer, it will put on new growth that will quickly grow over any “tatty” leaves left by the hedgetrimmer. Brushless Dual-Blade Hedge Trimmer, Other advantages of the Husqvarna 115iHD55, Trimming laurel with the Husqvarna 115iHD55. Diseases when they do occur, commonly include shot-hole disease and powdery mildew. Select a 6- to 8-inch section of root the thickness of a pencil. Laurels vary in size and color. Powdery mildew won’t need any chemical control as the hedges tend to outgrow the disease when the weather becomes less humid. At home, there are no more excuses about trimming our hedges. Once that is done, all that is needed is to keep the hedge in shape.If you have the time, this is best done by cutting back individual branches with secateurs - the leaves of Prunus laurocerasus are very large and hedge trimmers can leave them ragged.This is not a real problem as laurel grows new foliage quickly. Laurel pests include bay suckers, rabbits, slugs and vine weevil. If it grows too big, it isn’t too hard to cut it back – even back to the stump. As far as when you should trim your laurel hedge, it is highly recommended to do so in the late spring or early summer. The leaves of laurel hedges are oblong, shiny and range from 3 to 6 inches long. Furthermore, gas-powered models are noisy, therefore making them unsuitable for suburban environments. First off, Husqvarna is one of the most trusted names in power tools. To find out more about me, visit my About Page. Use a tree tie to keep your new plant stable, particularly in windy conditions. BackyardGadget.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. The leaves are dark green and leathery on the topside and are light green on the underside. just like with ivy and a few others you can grow it from a cutting from an adult plant, i was wondering if you are able to do this with laurel also? If you don’t want a conifer hedge, then Laurel is the next quickest growing evergreen shrub that will form a good garden hedge. Just do it! This model has more battery life than other similar units. As this plant has large, tough leaves, hedge trimmers can leave them looking ragged. Uncover a root from the laurel you are cloning. We do not choose any old rubbish, and these links help us keep the lights on, so thank you for choosing to click with us! I have seen many living screens, and they are very attractive and appealing if regularly maintained. Taking a basic semi-ripe cutting Select the cuttings from this season’s growth and remove them using sharp secateurs. How and when to prune a Laurel Hedge . Victorians created death jars by getting a laurel leaf, cutting it in half, popping half into the jar, catching a butterfly and putting it into the jar with the lid. Gas-powered, battery-operated or electric trimmer. Laurels vary in size and color. Select cuttings from this season’s hedge growth. Using weevil killer is the solution for hedges with vine weevil. Formative pruning is necessary for laurel hedges to become as dense as possible. If anything can be said about this evergreen is that it is highly adaptable. If after that time, then the best time to cut back hard in late winter. Step 10 Harden off your rooted hedge cuttings before transplanting them out of doors. You would need to root the cuttings before planting the hedge and this is not practical for most people. It was hard work but very rewarding. To me there is not point in preparing the whole hedge planting area, so it... Prepping your Hedge Line for the Cuttings. Avoid over-vigorous, unhealthy or damaged material. Cut the opposite end away from the tree at an angle. I've created this site to share my experience, and to help people choose the right tools for the job. Some have dark green or bright leaves while others have variegated leaves. OK, fast forward to planting time. Too much moisture may cause the hedge cutting to rot. Some homeowners don’t like conifer hedges such as leylandii, so they opt for laurel instead. As for Shot-hole disease, laurel hedges tend to outgrow these and won’t need a chemical control. The cutting tip needs to be soft while the base needs to be hard. Remove any damaged leaves with secateurs to keep the hedge healthy and attractive. Cut the end closest to the tree. Laurel is one of the easiest hedge plants to grow, it is hardy, dense and resistant to most threats. Okatsune 231 Hedge Shears - The Noble Warrior. Cordless may by slightly heavier, but this disadvantage is offset by the fact that you don’t have to drag about a cord. Avoid over-vigorous, unhealthy or damaged material. Cherry Laurel hedging is our most favourable option, hence the alternate name, the Common Laurel. link to What Is The Safest Way to Trim a Hedge? Again, even with the 22 – inch guide bar, you may need to stand on a ladder or hydraulic platform to effectively trim the tallest parts of the hedge. What is the best hedge trimmer for laurel? For more information on when to trim your hedge, check out my guide! There are laurel hedging plants that grow to be as high as 20 feet, or seven meters. Laurel is a popular shrub used for hedges or living screens. Wreaths made of laurel are still used today. Do this with a garden fork or a small trowel. Cherry laurel is used both as a windbreak, for its ornamental value and planted as a feature hedge. Working around the house has always been a big part of my life. This weekend I trimmed ny Laurel hedge, I checked the dimensions and it was 15 foot long and 12 foot high; I lopped 3 foot off the top and took the trimmer down the front. This model weighs in at 7.5 pounds. For those of you who perhaps are not mechanically inclined and know little about maintenance of a trimmer, I can’t recommend a better unit. Laurel should be trimmed or pruned on a regular basis. Personally, I find this trimmer to be one of the best I’ve ever used. As a result, it acts as an effective privacy screen that reduces … It starts with minimal effort and doesn’t quit like other units do. But what is the best hedge trimmer to get this job done? As somebody who has worked extensively with power tools, I can tell you in order to effectively trim tall laurel bushes, you will need a model with a very long guide bar. Laurel hedges present a distinct challenge with regards to the maintenance and trimming of them. The Husqvarna 115iHD55 features a brushless electric motor that is specifically designed to deliver high efficiency, so you won’t be wasting time or energy. The reason for doing this is that the hedge will produce new shoots very quickly during this season, thereby covering up any leaves that are left looking disheveled or shabby after you’re done trimming. If you prune these hedges in autumn, it won’t have a chance to cover up untidy leaves or re-grow, so early summer is the best time. I'm trying to propagate English Laurel. Do this in winter when the tree is dormant. BackyardGadget.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Not only does laurel have a tendency to grow wildly out of control and become thick, this evergreen plant sprouts high. We pot up hundreds of rootballed laurel plants each year and rarely lose any of them. Cherry Laurel is a large hedge plant and primarily used for its large thick and glossy green leaves. Laurel leaves, when crushed or cut, leak hydrogen cyanide, which can be lethal when consumed. Husqvarna 115iHD55 40V 22-in. Spraying food-grade potassium bicarbonate can sometimes be used at a ratio of five grams per litre of water if you want to get rid of Powdery Mildew. Most soils are suitable for laurel to flourish in. It took me under 4 hours. It will cut through those thick hedges with ease. This model has many good things going for it, one of which is Save Mode. You can prune a laurel hedge with secateurs - which is not as labour-intensive as it sounds – or with a hedgetrimmer. Plant a privacy hedge with Laurel cuttings. The Husqvarna 115iHD55 is your best bet for maintaining laurel hedges and even cutting them into box shapes. Fill 15-centimetre (6-inch) pots with a 50-50 mixture of potting compost and sharp sand or fine grit. The cutting tip needs to be soft while the base needs to be hard. Laurel hedge plants are the nation's favourite with laurel hedging of all varieties gracing gardens throughout the UK, particularly the more popular varieties of Cherry and Portuguese Laurel. Break up the soil on the hole bottom so that the roots can easily get into the soil. Laurel is an evergreen that grows quick – and thick. Jan 25, 2020 - Grow a living fence and save money on fencing. Even a hot weekend in the summer can cause them to dry out so it is best to keep an eye on them every few days. A red-light indicator will come on warning you that your battery life is low. And no doubt, if you have laurel on your property, you’re prepping to trim your hedges. Select horizontal shoots over ones with gaps in the leaves. Use a taut horizontal string tied between two stout canes to act as a guide to cut the top of the hedge level. Make the cut straight across. You should have another fully charged battery ready to go before placing the spent one in the charger. The leaves of your laurel plants will quickly turn yellow and start to fall off if they are not watered enough (or if they are over-watered). These grow in spikes before opening their blooms which have a scent best described as “dainty”.eval(ez_write_tag([[970,90],'trimhedge_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_0',115,'0','0'])); Portuguese laurel hedges are an evergreen, classic hedge that develops small red-purple berries late in the year. Use chicken wire to fence off fences against rabbits. The aromatic flowers and gorgeous leaves will then have the added benefit of birdsong as the birds live in its protective branches. Our own long-suffering Laurel hedge at the nursery gets snipped at every Autumn for many thousands of cuttings before receiving a ‘Farmers haircut’ with the same giant tractor mounted hedge trimmer that cuts the rest of our (several miles) of field boundary hedges here on the nursery. Cherry laurel is particularly forgiving of pruning mistakes and it isn’t hard to produce a great looking hedge. Laurel is a popular shrub used for hedges or living screens. If it grows too big, it isn’t too hard to cut it back – even back to the stump. Here's what I've tried so far: I'm using flat plastic boxes about 4 " deep with just sand in some and plant soil mixed with sand in others. They reduce air pollution from traffic and provide food and shelter for wildlife. There are different types of Laurel plants, some of which include the Common Laurel, also known as the Cherry, the Portugal Laurel as well as the Bay Laurel. Select cuttings from this season’s hedge growth. The cuttings must be placed right side up from the way the root grew. But I DO have access to cuttings. DROUGHT SYMPTOMS OF LAUREL HEDGING . Each of the three categories have their advantages and disadvantages. Cherry Laurels/English Laurels may be propagated in the late spring and summer as well. Laurel can be trimmed or pruned to the height you require and, if it grows too big, it can be cut back as hard as you like – right back to the stump if necessary – and it will re-grow quickly into a new hedge. Advertisement. 2020 UPDATE: Two of the dwarf English laurel cuttings were planted at my parent’s house where today they are about 4ft x 4ft with routine pruning. These cuttings were done in the summer in sand medium. Trimming a large laurel hedge doesn’t have to be a laborious chore if you have the right type of trimmer. As you’re probably aware, it is advisable to have two batteries on hand at all times. Plus, cherry laurel hedges reduce noise pollution and are the perfect buffer against a busy street. Electric trimmers are an excellent choice, except that you run the risk of cutting the cord or the cord continually unplugging. The cut leaf would give off cyanide and kill the butterfly. Save Mode allows the user to get the most out of their run time by allowing the motor to work more efficiently. This species of evergreen is also called the common laurel and thrives in both direct sunlight and shady conditions. In my opinion, cordless is the way to with hedge trimmers these days if you are working from a ladder or platform to reach the tops of high hedges. The bright green polish of the laurel leaves are not only an aesthetic feature but also reflect sunlight, increasing the amount of light within your garden. This post contains affiliate links. It will simply re-grow … The best time to cut the plants back is in early Spring, well before the hedge is coming into growth (but provided the weather is not cold and frosty, if it is then wait until conditions improve). Some newer models contain a feature that locks the plug into place while you’re working. Cuttings can be from six to twelve inches in measurement. Laurel is quick-growing and evergreen. Laurel hedges should be cut in July or August. What is laurel? Nothing should be protruding above the hole’s top. A slight taper to a hedge - wider at the … Remember to prune your laurel hedge into an upright "A" shape. Fill the hole with soil and stake your plant if needed. While gas-powered trimmers are naturally more powerful due to the engine capacity, using them for extended periods will tire out your arms. Laurel hedges and screens are excellent because they provide privacy, act as a windbreak and cut down noise. I need a super-fast growing hedge for privacy and can't afford to buy the plants. Dip each base into rooting hormone and replant in the soil to propagate. Place the cuttings in a plastic bag straight away. Late august seems always to be the best time to clip, for there is then time for the hedge to re-grow a covering screen for the winter months. Clear the area two weeks before planting. link to Okatsune 231 Hedge Shears - The Noble Warrior. Control slugs by using slug pellets or nematodes. Laurel hedging plants are ideal for rootballing as they do not produce new leaves until well into spring, this gives the roots a chance to become re-established in the soil when they are re-planted before the tops of the plants start growing. Its leaves can be used to make cyanide, but don’t let that put you off this perennial favourite! Canes or stakes pushed into the ground help with vertical lines ; To shape the top of the hedge (e.g. Laurel hedges are great for birds to build nests in. Follow these tips to ensure an even, symmetrical hedge: Cutting straight, crisp edges by eye can be difficult. Here is a video of the process from start to finish for propagating English laurels. I'm Peter, the owner of BackyardGadget. To propagate laurel hedges, use semi-ripe cuttings which should be available from late Summer until the middle of Autumn. Laurel is generally easy to grow and tend to be free of disease. Rooting times will vary according to the type of hedge or shrub: roses-three to four weeks, azaleas-four to six weeks, lilacs-three to six weeks, camellias-six to eight weeks. The new growth will soon start to … Creating a laurel hedge from cuttings is a long term process. I'm Jamie and I started TrimHedge to learn about hedge trimming and topiary and share my findings with you. Some have dark green or bright leaves while others have variegated leaves. Thank you for stopping by! How to plant laurel hedging First, you should clear the area, taking care to remove any weeds, grass or other plants. Secondly, this hedge trimmer has a 22-inch blade that is very sharp. When it comes to trimming laurel, not only do you need a trimmer that has a long guide bar, you also need a model that is light enough, so you can maneuver easily. Brushless Dual-Blade Hedge Trimmer is the best choice for trimming laurel. Hard Pruning Laurel Bushes or Hedges | When and How. Laurel should be trimmed or pruned on a regular basis. Enjoy our YouTube review of the Okatsune 231 Hedge Shears - they are a Noble Warrior to help you with the art of topiary. Early summer or late spring is the best time to prune laurel hedges, using a hedge trimmer or secateurs to achieve the shape you want. The following spring, put the pots out after the risk of frost has passed. If there are lots of weeds in the area, you can add some weed killer around two weeks before you plant the hedge. Give the plant a good watering, some words of encouragement and then leave it to establish. A systemic insecticide can be used to control bay suckers. In the spring, you can prune away unproductive plants to stimulate newer growth from which to take cuttings from later on. Later in the article, I will go into greater detail as to why this is the best one. Dig square holes twice the width of the root balls, and to the depth of the root ball plus two inches. I have seen many living screens, and they are very attractive and appealing if regularly maintained. Yes, efficiency is the buzzword here. After considering dozens of models manufactured by different companies, I have come to the conclusion that the Husqvarna 115iHD55 40V 22-in. Make sure that there are two inches between the top of the root ball and the soil surface. In the seventies and eighties, laurel was a popular decoration for Christmas, hung often in butcher shops and gift shops. It was fortunate I had space left over in a skip I was using for building works otherwise it would have taken me about 20 trips to the tip. The cherry laurel is one of the more popular privacy hedging choices due to its fast-growing characteristics. Pest damage only occurs to smaller plants up to three feet tall or pot-grown plants. This hedge grows in full sun or heavy shade. These hedges grow quickly after pruning. I enjoy the sight of well formed foliage and enjoy helping you keep your hedges in good shape and your borders in order. It is important to dispose of laurel cuttings properly and to avoid eating any part of it. In the late spring, English laurels are covered with cup-shaped, fragrant white flowers. Cut back hard in spring to reshape overgrown hedges. How to Grow a Laurel Hedge from Cuttings Preparing a Nursery Bed for Shrub Cuttings. This is known as cutting the hedge to a batter. If you care about the environment, you’ll be eager to grow a laurel hedge. To propagate laurel hedges, use semi-ripe cuttings which should be available from late Summer until the middle of Autumn. The fact that this model is considerably less noisy than others makes it perfect for working in areas where population density is higher, such as the suburbs. As stated above, the Husqvarna 115iHD55 has a 22 – inch guide bar that along with dual-action blades enables the user to have extended reach as well as low vibration. Hi! When trimming hedges or long periods, you want to be comfortable. Laurels can be cut back as hard as you like from early spring through until late summer (late August). It will simply re-grow into a new hedge. You can expect about 60cm of growth annually on average. Here's how to grow a laurel hedge from cuttings. BackyardGadget.com also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, Commission Junction, and other sites. These tips to ensure an even, symmetrical hedge: cutting straight, crisp edges eye. 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Is necessary for laurel instead have come to the stump minimal effort and doesn ’ t like conifer hedges as... Tire out your arms trimmer is the best i ’ ve ever used weed killer around two weeks before plant... To cut the top of the root balls, and other sites for shot-hole disease, laurel was popular... Eager to grow a living fence and save money on fencing full sun or heavy shade best i ’ ever. I need a super-fast growing hedge for privacy and ca n't afford to buy the plants an,...